Parties split on SC ex-judge AK Ganguly’s fate

Political parties appeared divided on Tuesday on the demand for Justice AK Ganguly’s resignation as the chief of the West Bengal State Human Rights Commission. While the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, demanded that he should step down, her party colleague Subramanian Swamy said it was incorrect to defame him on the basis of an allegation.

“Justice Ganguly was one of the finest judges…..All that has happened is the girl has made an allegation after 11 months. Unless it is converted into an FIR, or the Supreme Court appointed committee enquiry holds him prima facie guilty, I don’t think you can ask a judge to be defamed on the basis of an allegation,” said Swamy.

Earlier, Swaraj had tweeted: “I strongly feel that justice AK Ganguly should resign…. Not only Caesar’s wife but Caesar too must be above suspicion.”

Swaraj was supported by Nationalist Congress Party leader Tariq Anwar and Shivanand Tiwari of the Janata Dal (United).

The Left parties, however, termed Swaraj’s statement as an attempt to keep the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in good humour.